Coats for children

The need for children's coats still continues as we are being contacted by many schools throughout Baltimore City.  We have already provided close to 300 coats this season and yet we are getting requests from the Baltimore City Public School System advising us of the need for these coats for the children of this city.  So take a look through your closet and the coat that you bought for young Bill, your 12 year old, who is now 19 and is six foot tall might not need that small size jacket.  We will happily wash or dry clean them and repair them if they are repairable so that we can get them out to children in need of warm coats for the winter season.

Please bring them to "The Book Thing, Inc." located at Vineyard Lane and 30th Street and our little angel over there will pick them up and wash them for us and deliver them so that we can get them circulated into the school system.  This is really important to make sure that children are not suffering through the winter without warm clothing.  Tonight we will have a pickup and it means that we are running low on coats for children.

Thanks for your help and have a really happy holiday.

How do you correct a serious garbage problem in Charles Village???

One of our neighbors has been concerned over the North Charles Village PUD area and the fact that most of the buildings (home residency, landlord or JHU owned or occupied) within that location do not appear to be following the guidelines mandated by the community before they approved this agreement between the community and the developer.   Many meetings were held and tempers flared constantly at those meetings before an agreement was entered into.  However, at the completion of these meetings an agreement was reached, but most of the buildings within this area simply do not comply with the guidelines agreed upon.  This has meant that garbage is flowing out of dumpsters which are not properly closed, trash cans are non-existent and filth permeates the area.  Charles Village is not unique in that it has a rat program and JHU has supported the CVCBD in establishing a rat abatement program that is supposed to curtail this problem, but now the question arises in that if the garbage is not disposed of in a proper manner, are we now just feeding the rats in order to increase the numbers to then qualify for another grant next year?  Our neighbor has gone to the various agencies involved in this issue, because it is a serious health issue but nothing gets accomplished.  Housing takes 10 days in order to research an issue, which is usually beyond the period that the problem exists.  He has sought the help of his City Council Representative(s) who have meetings with the people involved, but the problem continues.  The CVCA, while approving the PUD and amdendments, takes no responsibility for compliance or enforcement of the PUD and won't even write a letter to our Council Representative(s) to enforce this ordinance, so the problem continues, not that the CVCA's letter would have any further strength than what the neighbor has in getting the problem resolved.  He has been diligent and provided all parties with photographs depicting the situation, but still no resolution. 

I would think that the most simple solution would be to ensure compliance with the guidelines of the PUD and find a mechanism where those who do not follow the guidelines be fined.  If reasoning does not prevail here, direct talks with the individuals and owners responsible for the filth and lack of compliance with the NCVPUD, then it appears that the only way the situation can be resolved is through a monetary fine.  It is amazing how this act accomplishes what promises, meetings cannot.  Baltimore is not going to get rid of the rat issue unless they correct the manner in which they handle their garbage.  Following basic garbage issues can stop the further population explosion of rats.